In late 2010, Corvallis homebrewers Aaron Sarnoff-Wood and Lee Larsen filled a gap in the college town’s drinking scene — cider. The duo opened 2 Towns Ciderhouse crafting unique ciders brewed with the traditional English and French-style’s tannic apples, Oregon grown, of course. Named after the cities of Corvallis and Eugene (Larsen’s a Beaver; Sarnoff-Wood a Duck), 2 Towns believes “… that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right,” states the cidery’s motto. “Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar, concentrates or artificial flavors, and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider.” Sounds delicious to us, and hopefully to you too in our Craft Cider Crosscut 9.7.17: A Flight of 2 Towns Ciderhouse.
2 Towns The BrightCider
6% ABV
Discovered on Long Island in 1759, the Pippin Newtown is one of the oldest original US varieties of apples. Thomas Jefferson grew it and Benjamin Franklin took samples to the English royal court, causing it to become one of the first US apple exports to the UK. 2 Towns Ciderhouse takes advantage of the apple’s sweet, rich flavor in its BrightCider, which shines a spotlight on Newtown Pippin with a little help from other Northwest Varieties. The BrightCider is fermented cold to slow the fermentation process, retaining the aromatics of this heirloom fruit. The result is balanced flavor — partly sweet and partly dry.
2 Towns Made Marion
6% ABV
The Marion blackberry was originally bred for Marion County, Oregon farmers. Tangy and full of ripe, rich berry notes that shine in 2 Towns’ Made Marion, even after blended with Northwest apples. The nose is expressive dark berry and cherry, with apple and sweetness. The taste follows suit — blackberry-like, tart and tangy with a medium bodied and low effervescence with a subtly dry finish.
2 Towns Prickle Me Pink
6% ABV
Prickle Me Pink uses 100 percent fresh-pressed Northwest apple juice and California whole prickly pear. The fruit is naturally dense in color and lends the cider a hue that borders on neon. The nose captures fig nectar and watermelon. Mouthfeel is nice with a light body and light carbonation. On the tongue expect pear and cider flavor with a slightly tart finish.
2 Towns Hollow Jack
6.4% ABV
Hollow Jack kicks pumpkin-spiced lattes back into the patch. Made from A brew of fresh-pressed apples, caramelized pumpkin and sweet potatoes, it’s basically fall in a glass. The pumpkin flavor isn’t overwhelming, which is enjoyable and not too sweet.
2 Towns Nice & Naughty
10.5% ABV
Nice & Naughty spiced apple cider is Christmas in a glass. Cinnamon arrives first on the taste palate, and nutmeg in a close second with clove and honey bringing up the rear. Where’s the fireplace? Where’s the big, comfy sweater? Where are the presents? Oh, yes, Nice & Naughty is a present.
